Marion MSR-2 Analog Synthesizer - RARE (Oberheim MSR2) A- 01307

via these auctions

"Tom Oberheim (of Oberheim synthesizer fame) founded Marion Systems in the early 1990s to develop a mainframe modular synthesizer that was planned to accomodate differerent synthesis technologies as plug-in boards. The MSR-2 chassis, which is 1U rackmountable, supports 2 plug-in boards. The subtractive analog ASM was the only plug-in board ever offered for the MSR-2 -- it offers 8 voices (16 HROs) of analog synthesis using Oberheim's new DCO-based HRO (High Resolution Oscillator) technology with continuous waveshaping to create waveforms that bridge the gap between the usual saw/square offerings. A derivative of this CEM chip-based HRO design lives on today in Dave Smith's Evolver and other DSI instruments.

A slightly less expensive version of the MSR-2 was sold as the Pro Synth which included a single ASM board but I don't believe the Pro Synth was expladable like the MSR-2. Like most MSR-2s, this unit has one 8-voice ASM board, so it has room for another ASM board in the 1U chassis if you can track one down. If two ASM boards are installed, they can be used as one 16-voice (32 HRO) synthesizer, or they can be layered.

The best features of the MSR-2 are the filter section with very powerful FM capabilities and the deep modulation routings offered -- not surprisingly, they are very similar to the modulation capabilities of Oberheim's Matrix 6 and Matrix 12 synthesizers which preceeded the Marion. Also, even though the unit only has a few knobs, it is very easy to program even with complicated patches. The MSR-2 operating system is very similar to that of E-mu's Proteus line -- very logical."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Marion (Oberheim) MSR-2 Poly Analog Modular Synthesizer

via this auction

"Concernig the O.S. VERSION:
- Following Internet searches, I believe these are the latest OS versions:
MSR (mainframe) Version 1.09 / ASM (synthesizer module) Version 1.13
- As you can see, the mainframe of the actual item has OS 1.09; can´t really tell the ASM version at this point

---------- ----------
Some facts/rumors about the MSR-2:
- It has Audio-In, so you can process external audio signals thru the envelope/filter et al.
- The Marion MSR-2 is known for having the 'Oberheim sound' packaged inside a compact single-space rackmount module with modern digital reliability and MIDI implementation.
- Despite its rather harmless and simple appearance, the MSR-2 allows for some fairly complex but intuitive programming. The filters, envelopes, LFOs and other parameters are very analog-like in their sound and editing methods.
- The module is 16-part multitimbral.

8 voices and HROs (high resolution oscillators) used in here, midi control, the rest is quite like the Matrix 6, this mainframe can hold up to 2 complete ASMs (16 voices) and a main graphic EQ. planned: sample player, wavetable synth, FX, FM?.. - Module never came up.. has triangle to saw morphing.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Tom Oberheim's Marion MSR-2

via this auction via jan.

"Some facts/rumors about the MSR-2:

* it probably uses the same VCO chips as in recent Prophet08 and DSI Evolver.
* It has Audio-In, so you can process external audio signals thru the envelope/filter et al.
* The Marion MSR-2 is known for having the 'Oberheim sound' packaged inside a compact single-space rackmount module with modern digital reliability and MIDI implementation.
* Despite its rather harmless and simple appearance, the MSR-2 allows for some fairly complex but intuitive programming. The filters, envelopes, LFOs and other parameters are very analog-like in their sound and editing methods.
* The module is also 16-part multitimbral.
* And external inputs route a signal through the envelope and filter sections.
* The MSR-2 is rare but definitely worth checking out."

Update: see the comments for some useful info.

Marion Systems ProSynth

images via this auction

"Marion ProSynth Analog/Digital Synthesizer
Built in 1996 By Tom Oberheim
Owners Statement:
I had read in keyboard magazine that Tom Oberheim was designing a new synth module. I was a fan after listening to his earlier Oberheim synths. I later saw an advertisement in keyboard magazine that the synth was completed and shipping. I called the listed phone number to order the Marion prosynth and got a answering machine. Later that day I got a return phone call and to my surprise it was Tom Oberheim. He said he would put one together for me. I asked him to sign it for me and he did. It has been in my studio ever since."

the jirny

YouTube via jameshow1234.
"The jirny (1994-2004) music video, song done in 1994 video done in 2004"
Spot the synths. Here's one you don't see often: a Marion Systems MSR-2 as the first synth in the vid. Pretty cool.

Marion MSR2

No title link, just this shot pulled via this auction.

"Up for auction is a used MARION #MSR2 modular synth rack mount. Marion was founded by Tom Oberheim in 1993. It is similar to a Matrix6R. The unit turns on but is untested. It comes from a user who kept his equipment in good working order so I expect it to function well. No manual is included."

I didn't realize it was toted as a "modular" synth. The Oberheim Matrix-6 and of course Matrix-12 are sometimes alluded to as modular-like in that they have extensive modulation capabilities via their "matrix modulation." I wonder if the MSR2 is straight forward enough to program without a manual. The one thing I liked about the Matrix-6 was its relative simplicity. Everything was only one layer deep - no submenus. Everything logically flowed from left to right and all parameters were printed on the surface for easy reference. Some of the trigger modes and modulation sources such as the Ramps and Tracking Generators could use the manual to full grasp them, however in general it's a pretty straight forward synth and you could get away without the manual and just explore. The Matrix-6 was my first and favorite synth. Hence the Matrix in Matrixsynth. I never picked up an MSR2 to compare.

Via Jimmy.

Update via Jimmy in the comments: "It was "Modular" because it had room for two voice cards - the 8-voice analog matrix-style, and another that was planned - though none were ever produced."

I remember this now. I did a little searching and found this great SOS article on the MSR2. According to Tom Oberheim in the article, "'The MSR2 is a modular synthesizer comprising a 1U mainframe and two plug-in cards, or modules. The card modules utilise a simple connection system which provides MIDI, DC power and audio out. Effectively, each module card is a complete synthesizer, so there's no limitation as to what we can do in the future, and we plan to make the architecture open to third-party developers. Not only can we build synthesizer boards using different synthesis technologies, we could also build boards for effects like reverb, or we could put in a hard-disk recorder for specialised applications.'"

SoNiCbRaT Photo Album

Title link takes you to more shots.

Gear includes a Roland SH-101, Korg Prophecy and Triton, Akai MFC42, Marion MSR2, Juno 106, and the Haken Continuum Fingerboard.

Matrixsynth by stepwriterun

Marion MSR-2